I’ve seen your ads for years. Your Instagram post about this podcast today led me to listen for the first time and finally purchase. Your passion for the product and love of the grind is inspiring.
Thank you for letting me know! This is precisely the feedback I was looking for lol. I'm glad you have joined the ranks and hope that you love your product and that it serves you for decades to come.
Came across this video and love the honesty. Meta and Google Ads are a black box and seem to be losing effectiveness. Was talking to a neighbor who used to be an engaged facebook buyer and even he ignores and doesnt trust anything anymore. Think Google and Meta fatigue is real but wonder what other channels can replace them for DTC. Not everyone wants to (or should be) a tiktoker or podcaster. Almost miss the days of good old fashioned well produced commercials on TV.
I've looked and not bought several times before finally committing to a outlet of purchases. I don't use Facebook, so I've never actually seen any of your adverts. I was introduced to your company via a TH-cam video (the Everbook collaberation). My initial problem was the price, I'm on a limited budget and as an international customer, the additional costs and import fees are always an issue. Beyond that, I found the website itself a major sticking point, between trying to work out actual sizes of products, as well as well as a lack of detail on the fittings. That alone led to significant disappointment with a journal purchase and seeing how the books were bolted in to the cover once I got it, which then made me far more cautious for future purchases. For similar reasons, as an international customer (shipping weights/costs) having to get a product complete with unwanted items, pens, preinstalled pads/papers has also made me pause or change my mind about potential purchases. I should point out, having completed a couple of purchases, even knowing how well made and what good quality your products are, I still have all of those sticking points each time I've considered making a purchase. On an advertising note, I find adverts are such a constant barrage these days that I mentally switch them off and they don't even register most of the time. Things like youtube product reviews (and the QVC style product discussions) are much more likely to grab my attention if it's a product I find interesting.
This is great feedback. For me its important that every one of our products is able to be used out of the box. That's why we make a point of including pens and inserts. I do understand that some people are very particular about those point though and your insight on including more details on sizing and attach points is good. International shipping and taxation is a pain, and long term I want to find better distribution channels for our overseas customers that allow them to have a smoother time. I'm currently in the middle of a website design overhaul, which I hope allows for some of the issues to be solved. I like the idea of a QVC style discussion. I need to think more about how I could implement that.
Marketing is a constant headache for brands. As a guy who gets hired to fix marketing problems, I get it. I see all kinds of problems all the time. If yall ever want anotjer set of eyes on your website, marketing, etc, happy to take a look.
Hey, I came in to your product through the Everbook collaboration. Ultimately, after I had a gift of money, I was able to purchase the Everbook cover. I have stuck around, however, because I appreciate your opposition to planned obsolescence. You make really lovely products, if they are even remotely as good as the Everbook cover. Nevertheless, the main problems preventing me from purchasing your own product line are essentially twofold: budget (many things in our home demanding our already limited financial attention) and necessity (I am able to accomplish what I need for writing and organizing through less expensive products that are also good quality. The fact that I am somewhat fickle when it comes to products and methods also suggests restraint in any major purchases. All of that said, I really appreciate your brand and your products, but I have noticed that your advertising, when I see it at all, isn't the kind of advertising that I normally see. Some sites (L.L.Bean, Franklin-Covey, etc.) will show up all over the place as soon as I close the website, but I do not see yours nearly as much. When I do, I am not sure it would have appealed to me if I didn't already know your products, but it might be a cart before the horse kind of thing.
This is good to know. The Everbook is such an interest thing for me. Pastor Wolfmueller is a neighbor for my parents and they connected us after hearing that he was looking for a quality manufacturer. I was so resistant to the Everbook at first because of the elastic strap. My design philosophy requires that nothing be able to break or wear out, and elastic (eventually) does. I think that it all played out well though, because the co-branding allowed for us to maintain the pure Murdy Creative Co. philosophy for our products while allows this exception due to it also being branded under the Everbook brand. As to the financial point. You are absolutely right that we live in the real world and are constrained by our financial capacities at every turn. As to your second point about necessity, there is a missing piece that I have yet to really fine tune. I think it is something like "something that can do the job is good, but something that can do the job and evokes a deeper feeling is better." I still need to distill that down and have been trying to find the right way to nail that emotional connection for years. Sure you can buy a Moleskine Journal that is the same as what is in our Murdy No. 2 for $20 at your local Target, but when that simple Moleskine insert is wrapped in quality leather, it makes that journal more meaningful than it is by itself. There's something deeply emotional that happens as a side effect of high quality leather. It makes you take what you are writing more seriously. I haven't quite got it down yet, but that's the jist. If I can make that point properly, it helps bridge the necessity gap. It helps people make the connection that "I really do NEED a leather journal to elevate my mental state when I'm writing" to take it seriously. It can help people separate the writing on a post it note that is just thrown away, from important notes. as to showing up everywhere, that is usually Google ads and they happen to be really expensive (mostly because the major companies pay a bunch for them which puts them out of reach for smaller brands). We may need to invest in them though.
Someone once said, “Prayer IS the strategy.” Beyond sounding trite, I think this means there are ways prayer (as a first priority) can move things forward that merely strategizing first, then asking God for wisdom, can’t. Please know, I make no assumptions about your faith or process. Just hoping to be helpful. And…I will be unboxing my new Ledger Cut Journal this weekend!
I love this. I would describe myself as a devout Christian and wholeheartedly agree with your above point. Martin Luther was once quoted for saying "I have too much to do today to NOT spend an hour in prayer" lol. Thank you for supporting the company and if you have any issues with it at all you let me know and we can help!
Hey, Colin. I hope it came across as helpful, not preachy or assumptive. And definitely love me some Luther! I’m really enjoying my new Ledger Cut Journal. The design is genius (hinges and “backbone” that secures the insert)
I’ve seen your ads for years. Your Instagram post about this podcast today led me to listen for the first time and finally purchase. Your passion for the product and love of the grind is inspiring.
Thank you for letting me know! This is precisely the feedback I was looking for lol. I'm glad you have joined the ranks and hope that you love your product and that it serves you for decades to come.
Came across this video and love the honesty. Meta and Google Ads are a black box and seem to be losing effectiveness. Was talking to a neighbor who used to be an engaged facebook buyer and even he ignores and doesnt trust anything anymore. Think Google and Meta fatigue is real but wonder what other channels can replace them for DTC. Not everyone wants to (or should be) a tiktoker or podcaster. Almost miss the days of good old fashioned well produced commercials on TV.
I've looked and not bought several times before finally committing to a outlet of purchases. I don't use Facebook, so I've never actually seen any of your adverts. I was introduced to your company via a TH-cam video (the Everbook collaberation). My initial problem was the price, I'm on a limited budget and as an international customer, the additional costs and import fees are always an issue. Beyond that, I found the website itself a major sticking point, between trying to work out actual sizes of products, as well as well as a lack of detail on the fittings. That alone led to significant disappointment with a journal purchase and seeing how the books were bolted in to the cover once I got it, which then made me far more cautious for future purchases.
For similar reasons, as an international customer (shipping weights/costs) having to get a product complete with unwanted items, pens, preinstalled pads/papers has also made me pause or change my mind about potential purchases.
I should point out, having completed a couple of purchases, even knowing how well made and what good quality your products are, I still have all of those sticking points each time I've considered making a purchase.
On an advertising note, I find adverts are such a constant barrage these days that I mentally switch them off and they don't even register most of the time. Things like youtube product reviews (and the QVC style product discussions) are much more likely to grab my attention if it's a product I find interesting.
This is great feedback. For me its important that every one of our products is able to be used out of the box. That's why we make a point of including pens and inserts. I do understand that some people are very particular about those point though and your insight on including more details on sizing and attach points is good. International shipping and taxation is a pain, and long term I want to find better distribution channels for our overseas customers that allow them to have a smoother time. I'm currently in the middle of a website design overhaul, which I hope allows for some of the issues to be solved.
I like the idea of a QVC style discussion. I need to think more about how I could implement that.
Marketing is a constant headache for brands. As a guy who gets hired to fix marketing problems, I get it. I see all kinds of problems all the time.
If yall ever want anotjer set of eyes on your website, marketing, etc, happy to take a look.
Thanks for the offer. It's like running on a treadmill.
@@MurdyCreativeCo running on a treadmill where someone changes the speed and incline when you least expect it.
I discovered you from TH-cam shorts.
Hey, I came in to your product through the Everbook collaboration. Ultimately, after I had a gift of money, I was able to purchase the Everbook cover. I have stuck around, however, because I appreciate your opposition to planned obsolescence. You make really lovely products, if they are even remotely as good as the Everbook cover. Nevertheless, the main problems preventing me from purchasing your own product line are essentially twofold: budget (many things in our home demanding our already limited financial attention) and necessity (I am able to accomplish what I need for writing and organizing through less expensive products that are also good quality. The fact that I am somewhat fickle when it comes to products and methods also suggests restraint in any major purchases.
All of that said, I really appreciate your brand and your products, but I have noticed that your advertising, when I see it at all, isn't the kind of advertising that I normally see. Some sites (L.L.Bean, Franklin-Covey, etc.) will show up all over the place as soon as I close the website, but I do not see yours nearly as much. When I do, I am not sure it would have appealed to me if I didn't already know your products, but it might be a cart before the horse kind of thing.
This is good to know. The Everbook is such an interest thing for me. Pastor Wolfmueller is a neighbor for my parents and they connected us after hearing that he was looking for a quality manufacturer. I was so resistant to the Everbook at first because of the elastic strap. My design philosophy requires that nothing be able to break or wear out, and elastic (eventually) does. I think that it all played out well though, because the co-branding allowed for us to maintain the pure Murdy Creative Co. philosophy for our products while allows this exception due to it also being branded under the Everbook brand.
As to the financial point. You are absolutely right that we live in the real world and are constrained by our financial capacities at every turn. As to your second point about necessity, there is a missing piece that I have yet to really fine tune. I think it is something like "something that can do the job is good, but something that can do the job and evokes a deeper feeling is better." I still need to distill that down and have been trying to find the right way to nail that emotional connection for years. Sure you can buy a Moleskine Journal that is the same as what is in our Murdy No. 2 for $20 at your local Target, but when that simple Moleskine insert is wrapped in quality leather, it makes that journal more meaningful than it is by itself. There's something deeply emotional that happens as a side effect of high quality leather. It makes you take what you are writing more seriously. I haven't quite got it down yet, but that's the jist.
If I can make that point properly, it helps bridge the necessity gap. It helps people make the connection that "I really do NEED a leather journal to elevate my mental state when I'm writing" to take it seriously. It can help people separate the writing on a post it note that is just thrown away, from important notes.
as to showing up everywhere, that is usually Google ads and they happen to be really expensive (mostly because the major companies pay a bunch for them which puts them out of reach for smaller brands). We may need to invest in them though.
Someone once said, “Prayer IS the strategy.” Beyond sounding trite, I think this means there are ways prayer (as a first priority) can move things forward that merely strategizing first, then asking God for wisdom, can’t.
Please know, I make no assumptions about your faith or process. Just hoping to be helpful. And…I will be unboxing my new Ledger Cut Journal this weekend!
I love this. I would describe myself as a devout Christian and wholeheartedly agree with your above point. Martin Luther was once quoted for saying "I have too much to do today to NOT spend an hour in prayer" lol. Thank you for supporting the company and if you have any issues with it at all you let me know and we can help!
Hey, Colin. I hope it came across as helpful, not preachy or assumptive.
And definitely love me some Luther!
I’m really enjoying my new Ledger Cut Journal. The design is genius (hinges and “backbone” that secures the insert)